The 200-year-old tradition of Manipuri handloom weaving in Moulvibazar is at serious risk, with weavers reporting that the market for their products has almost disappeared. For generations, Manipuri women have led this cottage industry, producing sarees and textiles that once held national and international reputation — and were recently recognized as a Geographical Indication (GI) product. However, declining demand and market pressure now threaten the livelihoods of at least 5,000 Manipuri women.
Local artisans say the crisis began when factories in Kamalganj and Roumari started producing machine-made sarees using polyester yarn, copying Manipuri patterns at significantly lower prices. Although the imitation products lack the craftsmanship and cultural value of traditional handlooms, the price difference is driving buyers away. As a result, the painstaking labor of weaving a saree — which takes two women 5 to 6 days to produce — is going unrewarded. Artisans say they can no longer recover even the basic cost of yarn and labor.
Because of this market collapse, younger generations are increasingly unwilling to continue the craft. Community members fear this will not only destroy a source of income but also erase a cultural identity deeply tied to women’s labor, memory, and matriarchal heritage. Many weavers state that when weaving stops, a part of the Manipuri identity also disappears.
Last week, Manipuri artisans and residents held a press conference at the Bhanubil Majergaon Community-Based Tourism Center, urging government intervention. They called for protection of original Manipuri products, enforcement against counterfeit production, fair pricing initiatives, training and design support for younger weavers, and access to sustainable markets.
“Weaving is our history, our survival, and our pride,” said artisan Aruna Devi. “If this industry dies, we lose more than income — we lose who we are.”
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